Friday, January 26, 2007

The co-owners of Schoene Ansicht have given a whole new meaning to cliche, "There is no such thing as bad publicity." In the comments section of my last post--which details attempts by those co-owners and by Dale and Associates developers to install a drainage pipe that would funnel run-off downhill into neighbors' properties--one of the co-owners posted the contact information of the real estate agent for potential buyers. As if it were not adding insult to injury. As if any indifferent business could spam Enclave without me removing it. As if it wouldn't have gotten the response: they won't be getting any free advertising or support from me until they find a more constructive purpose for the drain pipe.

You know who is untouched in all of this? Dale and Associates, that's who. These guys and girls are basically beholden to the co-owners. They can plead to Metro that they had no other option but to design the pipe as it is, whine about having to go back to the Planning Commission with details that they should have resolved the first time around, but then make no effort to be responsible to Salemtown. And then they can walk away without fear of any financial repercussions. Neighbors cannot boycott their business, because we're not the ones doing business with them. We cannot lobby against them, because the land owners choose them. They come in and survey and design and then leave with their money in hand; beholden to no one who lives here.

Maybe someone more knowledgeable over at Belmont's Center for Entrepreneurship can explain the merits of that catbird seat to me. I tell you what, though: no matter how much smarter they are, that someone could never justify spamming a blog to capitalize on the very criticism one chooses to ignore while expecting that spam to stay.

6 comments:

I apologize for answering the question.The information that I posted was solicited. That's not spam. Please send me a copy of the picture with the sunset behind the Werthan Lofts. I can't seem to find that blog anymore. Now that was a Beautiful View.

Tell us what you are going to do to fix the drainage pipe situation in the alley and I'll send you copy gratis. There is no "beautiful view" for those with flooded yards and falling real estate values.

We are currently working with Steve Mishu of Metro Water's Storm Water Division. Prior to installing the last pieces of the system, we will run tests to make sure that the system will do what it's designed to do. It's designed to collect 5 times the amount of storm water that was collected prior to the 6 unit development. By filtering and slowly dissipating the storm water collected, the overall water quality and decreased water velocity will be a great improvement for that area.

After coming home from the horrific events surrounding my mother's death, to say that I was a bit displeased to have to remove freshly cut branches that were blocking our back gate just so I could take out the trash is an understatement. "Where in the world did these branches come from?", I asked myself. "Oh...it's that new construction on Hume. How come they put them down here??...hmm." While dragging them back to their place of origin, "Wow...what the hell is up with this huge drain pipe?? It looks like it will be draining straight into the alley! Surely not...I'll ask S-townMike he'll know, or he'll find out."

OK...I feel a little bit like I'm talking to my 3 year old here...but this one is going out to the developers out there: Good neighbors ask and inform others before they do something that affects the rest of the neighborhood. Such as, UNsolicited drainage of pipes, allowing branches that have been cut from trees on said construction site to be placed at others property to be picked up at some unknown time, AND not getting permission before you advertise something on someone else's blog...regardless of whether or not someone asked.

S-townMike is right about the fore-mentioned acts requiring one to have balls. Testicular fortitude is a trait that a lot of developers seem to have. Now I'm beginning to understand why so many neighborhoods are pushing for 'overlay'.

My condolences go out to you and your family for the loss of your mother.

Please call me or Taurus McCain when you have an issue like the one you have with the fresh cut branches. This is the first time that I've heard about this. If you want to contact the builder directly, call me and I'll put you in contact with him. There are a lot of sub contractors that come and go in a project, and if I don't know about an issue it can't be addressed.

Prior to installing the last pieces of the system, we will run tests to make sure that the system will do what it's designed to do.

So, you will be simulating a worse case scenerio rain event? I am wondering whether 24 to 48 hours of rain along with a topped off system would lead to ponding and run-off either across the adjoining backyard or in the front yard at the corner of 5th and Hume. I hope the adjoining neighbors are present with their own independent environmental engineer/storm water run-off specialist to judge the results of the test for him or herself. If the neighbors had never contacted and gotten a response from Metro's engineers, who also expressed concern, would you guys have been concerned enough yourself to run such a test?